Sleeve molding machine



Oct. 13, 1942. M, F, MQRN 2,298,582

` SLEEVE MOLDING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 22, 1959 ,2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1942. M, F, M'QRAN 2,298,582 SLEEVE MOLDING MACHINEFiled NOV. 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 13,1942 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLEEVE MOLDING MACHINE Matthew F.Moran, Kansas City, Mo'.

Application November 22, 1939, Serial No. 305,617 4 claims. (o1. 223-73)This invention relates to garment treating apparatus in the nature ofthat employed in cleaning and pressing establishments, or in otherlocations where the sleeves of coats and like wearingl apparel are to besmoothed and molded.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a sleeve moldingmachine that is susceptible of treating the sleeves of a garment so thatthe wrinkles are removed therefrom and the same is made presentablewithout creating therein the usual and Well-known crease.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of theaforementioned character wherein is included a novel and unique formingarm comprising a plurality of sections, interrelated and associated sothat a sleeve of a garment may be easily drawn thereover and held tautas steam and air is directed thereinto, for the purpose of processingthe fabric to remove Wrinkles.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a sleevemolding machine having novel foot operated structure for moving thesections of a forming arm toward and from each other, for the purpose ofholding the sleeve of a garment in place while the same is steamed andthereafter dried by a blast of air created through the medium of ablower forming a part of the equipment.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a garment treatingmachine in the nature of one specially adapted for use in moldinggarment sleeves, which' has as a part thereof, manually' controlledoperating structure for the parts of the forming arm, which structurehas elements for permitting a latch to beelective at a single station,while sleeves of diiferent sizes are being handled.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a machine of theaforementioned character, having a steam nozzle, means for supplyingsteam to said nozzle and removing moisture therefrom,

and means for directing a blast of air into the sleeve of a garmentbeing molded, which air is heated prior to introduction to the garmentby a heat exchanger, part of which constitutes means for directing thesteam toward the aforesaid nozzle.

A large number of minor objects of great im# portance will appear duringthe course of the following specification, referring to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a sleeve molding machineembodying the present invention'.A

Fig. 2 is a vertical', substantially central sectional view through themachine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through one of utheforming arms, taken on lin'e III-III of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary sectional View through a portion of themachine illustrating the' manner of mounting one of the sections of theforming arm; andA Fig. Gis an enlarged sectional view taken on' line VI-VI of Fig. 3.

Heretofore, when sleeved garments were tov be: treated so that thesleeves were without creases,A

the operator introduced a frame-like elementV into the sleeveand steamedthe fabric by positioning the frame and sleeve between the `upper andlower parts of a conventional pressing machineso that steam could beapplied andthe wrinkles removed from the fabric. The manner of handlinggarments in this way is objectionable in that only onesleeve can beKVtreated at a time, and there is no way of shortening the time by iirstapplying steam and thereafter a blast of air.

which dries the moistened fabric. In actual practise, a sleeve moldingmachine embodying the concepts of this invention, and made substantiallyas illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, has proven commerciallysuccessful and' therein for the passagejof a' connecting rod 20,n theupper end of which is pivotally secured as' at 22 to the movable section2,4 of forming arm 8'. The forming arms are identically constructed, andtherefore', a description of one will readily teach one skilledin theart the manner of disposing two of the armsso that both of the garmentsleeves may be moved over a forming arm at'the same time.

Reference tol Fig. 3 indicates the manner of mounting the stationarysection 26 of one of the forming arms 8 directly to the frame I2 or thetable IIl. This section is `provided with a longitudinal slot 28 throughwhich the `steam 'and air passes to the 4fabric of the garment. Section26 is longitudinally arched to conform to the shape of the garmentsleeve, and movable section 24 travels toward and from section 26, asthe hereinafter described foot operated structure is manipulated.Movable section 24 is likewise longitudinally slotted as at 30 andarched so that when the sections 24 and 26 are moved apart to exert anoutward force upon the garment sleeve, they will assume generally theposition illustrated in dotted lines of Fig. 2.

The space between sections 24 and 26 receives steam from steam nozzle 32and air from shield 34. In order to prevent the escape of steam and airout through the space between the free ends of sections 24 and 26, abaille 36 is provided, the parts of which are articulated as at 38 sothat the baffle will be effective, regardless of the distance betweensections 24 and 26. When a sleeve of a garment, not here shown, ispulled over the forming arm, and the arm expanded-baffle 36 willcooperate with fabric in the sleeve to form a closed cavity into whichsteam and air may be directed.

Reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings indicates the manner in which thetwo forming arms 8 are disposed to receive both sleeves of a garmentWithout distorting the fabric. It has been found that the sleeves of agarment are set at an angle of about 40 and therefore, forming arms 8are mounted upon table I so as to conform to this angle.

The manner of moving section 24 toward and from section 26 is unique inthat the structure devised will allow imparting a force upon the sleeve,while a single-station latch is used.

Connecting rod 20 is joined at its lower end to a stub shaft 40journalled in angle irons I4 forming a part of the frame of the machine.As stub shaft 40 is rotated about its axis, connecting rod 26 will swingto and fro to move section 24 toward and from section 26.

A spring 42 is introduced to yieldably maintain rod and section 20 and24 respectively, in a normal position. One end of spring 42 isadjustably secured as at 44 to a member on frame I2, while the other endis secured to an arm 46 projecting laterally and at an angle from stubshaft 40. Another arm 48 projecting laterally and at an angle downwardlyand rearwardly from stub shaft 40, has a free end thereof joined to head50 on a rod 52 about which spring 54 is wound. Rod 52 hasla collar 56mounted thereon and one end of spring 54 bears against this collar.While the lower end of spring 54 is seated against collar 56, the upperend thereof is against ear 58 on link 60, thus the force imparted toconnecting rod 20 for the purpose of moving section 24 is through spring54 and its resiliency will permit link 60 to be drawn downwardly by arm62 as the operator presses upon foot pedal 64.

Arm 62 is pivotally connected at one end as at 66 to a part of frame I2,while foot pedal 64 is pivotally mounted as at 68 on the other endthereof. Link 60 pivotally joins arm 62 intermediate its ends and aslink 60 is drawn down to the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 2,rod 52 will slide through an opening 'I0 form-ed in ear 58 and a likeopening formed in another ear l2, which extends laterally from link 60in spaced relation to ear 58.

The latch has one portion 'I4 thereof formed upon a depending part offoot pedal 64, while a cooperating ear 'I6 is rigidly secured to a partof frame I2. Moving foot pedal 64 about pivotal point 68, is all that isnecessary to disengage the latch, which, for convenience, should havebut a single station where the latch is effective, thus, when theoperator encounters sleeves of different diameters, the operatingstructure will compensate automatically for the diierence and theoperators foot will move to and from the position of the latch, shown indotted lines of Fig. 2.

The relation between arms 46 and 48 as to length and angularity shouldbe substantially as seen in Fig. 2, for it is desirable that spring 42always urge connecting rod 20 and its associated parts back to itsnormal position. The use of ear l2 and spring 54 in the mannerillustrated and described, is such as to create a buffer for theoperating structure when the latch is released.

Nozzle 32 receives steam from a source of supply not here shown butwhich is reached by supply pipe 'I8 that is joined to a moistureseparator 80. This moisture separator is of the conventional type and inaddition thereto, steam line 'I8 may have a trap for removing anysurplus condensate.

A pipe 82 has a whistle valve 84 therein that is operated by handle 86so that dry steam is passed upwardly and out of nozzle 32 after a,sleeve has been positioned over forming arm 8.

Moisture separator has a jacket 88 therearound that provides an airspace 90 from which blower fan 62 receives its supply of air. Fan 92 isof a conventional type and driven by a motor 94, controlled throughsuitable connections to switch 66 located in a convenient place wherethe operator may manipulate the same.

A conduit 98 joins blower 92 with jacket 88 and pipe |60 leads fromblower 92 to hollow shield 34. This shield 34 is upwardly and inwardlytapered and hollowed so that the sleeve of a garment over arm 8 willreceive the same. Nozzle 32 is disposed between sections 24 and 26 andshield 34 is immediately therebelow. The width of shield 34, throughwhich rod 20 passes, is great enough to allow the movable section 24 tobe carried out as far as desired.

Obviously, as steam passes from pipe I8 through moisture separator 80and to nozzle 32 air passing through space 90 will be raised intemperature prior to its introduction into the garment sleeve by way ofblower 92 and pipe |00.

Because of the desirability of simultaneously treating both sleeves of agarment, a single blower having a pipe |06, which is branched, as shownin Fig. l, is used. Two moisture separators 8D have been shown, one foreach forming arm 8, but it is conceivable that different arrangements ofthese parts may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

It is obvious that pipe |02 joined to moisture separator 80 may be usedto withdraw condenstate therefrom. This pipe should be trapped in amanner well-known and not illustrated in the drawings.

Where two steam lines are used, two operating handles 86 for the valvesare employed.

The operation of the sleeve molding machine has been made clear duringthe course of the foregoing specification, and it is obvious that whenthe sleeves of a garment are pulled over forming arms 8, both may bestretched and held in a taut condition when the manually operablestructures are actuated by foot pedals 64. After the sleeves of thegarment are smoothed, steam to an amount satisfactory to the operator,is introduced into the space formed between sections 24 and 25. Thesteam will pass out through slots 28 and 3G of sections 24 and 25respectively and baiiles 35 will preclude formation of a liu-elilrecavity which Would, without baffle 36, allow steam to escape withoutbeing used. After a sufiicient amount of steam has been introduced tomoisten the fabric of the sleeves, the steam is cut cfr" and switch 95manipulated to start motor 94 for the purpose of directing a blast ofair into the sleeves through pipe l, the branches thereof and shields34. When the garment is removed from forming arms 8, both sleeves willbe molded and the remaining parts of the coat may be pressed as desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sleeve molding machine of the character described, a forming armincluding a pair of vertical sections; a steam nozzle projecting intothe arm between the sections at the lower ends thereof; an articulatedbaille plate at the upper ends thereof closing the space therebetween;and means for directing a blast of air into the arm while a sleeve isdisposed thereon, said forming arm comprising a pair of opposedlongitudinally arched sections appreciably narrower than the sleevearranged to hold a major portion of the sleeve therebetween for directcontact with the steam and air entering the arm.

2. In a sleeve molding machine of the character described, a forming armincluding a pair of vertical sections; a steam nozzle projecting intothe arm between the sections at the lower ends thereof; an articulatedbaille plate at the upper ends thereof closing the space therebetween;and means for directing a blast of air into the arm while a sleeve isdisposed thereon, said sections being movable toward and from each otherto stretch the sleeve as steam and air are directed thereinto, saidsections being solid attenuated members appreciably narrower than thediameter of the sleeve held thereby.

3. In a sleeve molding machine of the character described, a forming armincluding a pair of vertical sections; a steam nozzle projecting intothe arm between the sections at the lower ends thereof; an articulatedbaile plate at the upper ends thereof closing the space therebetween;and means for directing a blast of air into the arm while a sleeve isdisposed thereon,

said pair of sections being movable toward and from each other, andmeans controllable by the operator for moving said sections, the majorpart of the sleeve being stretched between the sections without supportto be directly acted upon by the steam and air.

4. In a sleeve molding machine of the character described, a support; aforming arm including a pair of longitudinally arched sections carriedby the support; pipes forvdirecting air and steam into the forming armbetween said sections, one of said sections being rigid to the support,the other of said pair of sections having a connecting rod pivotallyjoined thereto intermediate the ends thereof for moving the sectiontoward and from the rigid section, the movable section being free toarticulate about vits pivotal connection with the connecting rod; and anarticulated baii'le plate extending between the sections and attachedthereto near one end thereof for closing the space therebetween as thesaid space is altered by movement of the movable section, said steam andair being directed into the space between the sections at the other endsthereof.

MATTHEW F. MORAN.

